Yarn cone holder



Oct. 25, w NYE YARN CONE HOLDER Filed Dec. 6, 1952 Mrs 71912:

M44 MM [/1045 EM M M United States Patent YARN CONE HOLDER William T.Nye, Richmond Heights, Mo., assignor to Gaylord Container Corporation,St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Maryland Application December 6, 1952,Serial No. 324,454

3 Claims. (Cl. 229-40) This invention appertains to wound yarn coneholders constructed of solid fibreboard, corrugated fibreboard, or anyother suitable material.

As filament yarns, such as rayon, nylon, and the like, are manufacturedthey are wound upon relatively slender tapered spindles. The yarnspindles are in the form of hollow frustrums of cones. The yarn filamentis wound so that a substantial portion of the spindle extends above thelevel of the yarn. This portion is termed the button. A relatively shortportion of the spindle extends below the level of the wound yarn to formthe base. After the yarn is wound on the spindles, each cone isindividually wrapped. It has been found expedient in the industry toship a large number of wound yarn cones in a single container. In orderto minimize damage it is very important to eliminate all movement of thecones Within the master shipping container, so the cones are packed insturdy cartons or holders. For economy, from two to four wound yarncones are often packed in one cone holder.

In most instances, the yarn cones are packed within the holders so thatthe button of the spindle as well as the base extends through spaced,die-cut openings in the top and bottom panels of the holders. Thespindle fits snugly in the die-cut openings so as to obviate any motionor movement of the cones Within the holder thus preventing injury to thedelicate yarn fibres. Further offort has been made to prevent any motionbetween adjacent cone holders by placing the holders into the mastercontainer in horizontal layers so that the button of each spindleextends upwardly into the hollow center of the base of the spindleabove. Even under the most favorable conditions, due to the clearancebetween the outside of the button and the inside of the base of thespindle, there is generally considerable movement between adjacentlayers of cone holders. It is therefore an object of this invention toprovide a yarn cone holder having integral, interlocking means toprevent any movement between adjacent horizontal layers of holderswithin a master container.

It is a further object of this invention to provide yarn cone holdershaving upwardly disposed extensions which provide convenient graspingtabs to facilitate the handling, loading, and proper placement of theholder within the relatively deep master container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cone holder which willefiectively aiford interlocking engagement between adjacent horizontallayers of cone holders within the master container regardless of whetherthe holders in adjacent horizontal layers are positioned in parallel orright angular relation to one and another.

A still further object is to provide a cone holder which may be madefrom a rectangular blank of material, thereby substantially eliminatingall waste.

Still another object of thisinvention is to provide a yarnconeholder'having integral, interlocking extensions which are automaticallyerected into operating position when the holder is set up ready for use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled ICC in the artupon a complete and full understanding of this invention.

This invention comprises a yarn cone holder having upwardly disposedprojections extending from the side walls of the holder and spacedopenings in the bottom portion of the holder adapted to snugly receivethe upwardly disposed projections of a subjacent holder.

In the drawings which accompany this specification like symbols refer tolike parts wherever they occur.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank of a cone holder embodying a preferredform of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a yarn cone holder erected from theblank shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top perspective view of four yarn cone holders embodying apreferred form of this invention shown arranged in a horizontal layeradapted to be placed within a master shipping container.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the horizontal layer of cone holdersillustrated in Fig. 3 with two holders of a second layer shown placed ininterlocked position.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a horizontal layer of cone holdersarranged in still another manner.

The blank illustrated in Fig. 1 is provided with an outer top formingflap 11 and an inner top forming flap 12. Each of the top forming flaps11 and 12 is foldably connected along top scores 13 to adjacent sidewalls 14. A bottom panel 15 is foldably connected to the lower edges ofthe adjacent side walls 14 along bottom scores 16. The cone holder blankillustrated in Fig. 1 is adapted to contain three cones of wound yarn;however, it is apparent that the cone holder illustrated may be modifiedto contain any desired number of cones. Top panel openings 17 areprovided for receiving the button of the cone spindle. The openings 17of the outer top flap 11 are spaced so that they will be in registeringrelation with the openings 17 formed in the inner top flap 12 in theerected position of the container. The top panel openings 17 are alsospaced so as to maintain each cone in a position to prevent all contactbetween adjacent cones within the holder. Similarly, relatively larger,bottom panel openings 18 are provided to receive the base of the yarncone spindle. Interlocking extensions 19 are formed from material in theadjacent side margins of the flaps 11 and 12. Extension receivingopenings 20 are provided in the lower margin of the side walls 14. Eachopening 20 is disposed directly across the side walls 14 from acorresponding interlocking extension 19. Longitudinal slots 21 areprovided in the bottom panel 15 adjacent the extension receivingopenings 20. The length of the openings 20 and the adjacent slots 21 issubstantially equal the length of the extensions 19. Furthermore, thewidth of the opening 20 is substantially equal to the height of theextension 19. Transverse slots 22 are provided in the end edge of thebottom panel 15 and in spaced parallel relation intermediate the bottompanel openings 18. The distance between adjacent transverse slots 22 issubstantially equal to the width of the cone holder. The

' dimensions of the slots 21 and 22 are such that they are adapted tosnugly receive the interlocking extensions 19. The outer top formingflap 11 is provided with a pair of locking semi-circular tongues 23spaced intermediate and adjacent the top panel openings 17. The tongues23 are foldably connected to the outer top forming flap along shortparallel scores 24. The inner top forming flap 12 is provided withspaced retaining flaps 25 which are in turn foldably connected to thetop flap 12 along top scores 26.

The embodiment of the cone holder illustrated may be erected, in anysuitable manner; however, a preferred method is to fold the side walls14 upwardly about the bottom scores 16 into substantially right angularrelation to the bottom panel 15. The wound yarn cones as shown at A inFig. 2 are then placed on the bottom panel 15 so that the base of thespindle extends through the bottom panel in the bottom panel openings18. The inner top forming flap 12 is then folded inwardly about theadjacent top score 13 into substantially horizontal position against thetops of the previously placed wound yarn cones. In this position, thebutton or top of the yarn cone spindle extends through the top panelopenings 17 in the inner top flap 12. The outer top forming flap 11 isthen folded about its adjacent top score 13 into fiatwise horizontalposition with the previously positioned inner top forming flap 12.Likewise, the buttons of yarn cone spindles extend through the top panelopenings 17 in the outer top forming flaps 11. The top panels 11 and 12are locked into position by forcing the looking tongues 23 inwardlyabout the parallel scores 24, thus forcing the subjacent retaining flaps25 inwardly and downwardly. After the locking tongues 23 have beenforced inward to a substantially vertical position, the retaining flaps25 will spring upward in substantially horizontal relation therebysecurely locking the tongues 23 in position. The holder is now ready tobe loaded into the master shipping container. It is apparent, however,that any suitable type of top flap locking arrangement may be used inplace in the lock described.

A preferred method of loading and positioning the cone holders within amaster container is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The first or bottom layerconsists of four cone holders, three of them being positioned lengthwiseand the fourth being placed transversely across their ends. As shown inFig. 4, in each subsequent layer, the placement of the transverselypositioned cone holder is alternated, thereby providing a staggeredstack, not unlike the stacking method used in masonry work. It will beapparent that when the yarn cone holders are placed as suggested, theinterlocking extensions 19 of cone holders in the bottom layer willautomatically extend into and be firmly received by either thelongitudinal slots 21 or the transverse slots 22. For instance, when acone holder is stacked longitudinally upon a holder, the interlockingextensions 19 of the lower holder will automatically fit into theopenings 20 and the adjacent longitudinal slots 21. However, if it isdesired to stack the holder transversely or at right angles to thesubjacent holder, the upper extensions 19 of the lower holder willextend into the transverse slots 22 in the holder above. Obviously,which transverse slots 22 the extensions 19 fit into, depends upon theposition of the upper holder with respect to the holder below. Forexample, the extensions 19 of the lower holder might extend into thetransverse slot 22 on the end edge of the holder above and thetransverse slot adjacent thereto. If there happened to be an adja centlower holder, then its extensions 19 would extend into the centraltransverse slots 22 sharing one of the slots 22 with the extensions ofthe adjacent cone holder. This interlocking is equally effective whetherthe subjacent cone holder is disposed in parallel relation or in rightangular relation to the cone holder above.

It is obvious that the cone holders embodying this invention may bestacked in any one of a number of different ways. One example is shownin Fig. where the first layer contains three holders placed side by sideand the second layer contains three cone holders, each placedtransversely to the holders in the first layer.

Obviously, extending from the top horizontal layer of cone holders willbe exposed extensions 19. These topmost extensions 19 may be simplyfolded downwardly into the top panels 11 and 12 or if desired, a singledie-cut horizontal sheet may be provided. This sheet should besubstantially equal to the horizontal cross sectional area of theoutside master container. The die-cut sheet will be provided withdie-cut slots spaced as are the slots 21 and 22. In this manner, thetopmost extensions 19 are d snugly received into the slots in thehorizontal sheet, thereby preventing deflection and further reducingmovement within the container.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is givenmerely by way of illustration and many variations may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. A plurality of yarn cone holders, each holder having. opposingupstanding side walls, a bottom panel, and top. forming, inturned, uppermarginal side wall flaps, each of said side walls having spaced uppermarginal vertical extensions struck from the adjacent upper marginalside wall flap and spaced, cooperating, vertically aligned, extensionreceiving cut-out portions positioned along the bottom margin of saidside walls, said bottom panels of said cone holders having cooperatinglongitudinal slots adjacent said side wall cut-outs, and transverseslots along the end edges of said bottom panel and in spaced parallelrelation therebetween, said cone holders being arranged in stacked,horizontal layers, the said side wall extensions snugly extending intothe longitudinal bottom panel slots and positioned in flush relationinto the side wall cut-outs of the holder stacked above.

2. A yarn cone holder comprising a bottom panel and an opposing pair ofupright side walls, each of said side walls having a foldably connected,inturned, top panel forming flap, each of said side walls being providedwith a plurality of spaced, rigid integral, upright, locking tabsconnected to the upper margin thereof, said locking tabs being formed ofadjacent portions of said inturned top panel flaps and positioned inflush, coplanar relationship with their adjacent side wall, the lowermargins of said side walls being provided with cooperating locking tabreceiving cut-outs, said bottom panel having longitudinal tab receivingslots adjacent said lower marginal side wall cut-outs, and transversetab receiving slots in the end edges of said bottom panel and in spacedparallel relation therebetween, the distance between said transversebottom panel slots being substantially equal the width of said coneholder.

3. A plurality of yarn cone holders, each holder having opposingupstanding side walls, a bottom panel and top forming, inturned uppermarginal side wall flaps, each of said side walls having spaced uppermarginal vertical extensions struck from the adjacent upper marginalside wall flaps, and spaced vertically aligned, co-operating extensionreceiving cut-out portions positioned along the bottom margin of saidside wall, the bottom panels of said cone holder having cooperatinglongitudinal slots adjacent said side wall cut-outs and transverseextension receiving slots along the end margins thereof and in spacedparallel relation therebetween, the distance between adjacent transverseslots being substantially equal to the width of said yarn cone holders,said cone holders being arranged in stacked, horizontal layers, the saidside wall extensions of one horizontal layer of cone holders snuglyextending into the longitudinal and transverse bottom panel slots andpositioned in flush relation into the side wall cut-outs of thehorizontal layer of cone holders stacked above.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,225,705 Dyson May 8,1917

1,604,391 Croy Oct. 26,1926

2,010,683 Williams Aug. 6,1935

2,408,159 Boh Sept. 24,1946

2,559,948 Currie July 10,1951

FOREIGN PATENTS 53,507 Netherlands June 15, 1942

